Maybe it’s the constant double-teams off the ball, or maybe it’s just a mechanical burp, but Elton Brand’s jump shot has been off the past week or so. Whatever the cause, Elton has gone to more of these little dribble-drives, and it’s working. I’ve never understood why Elton doesn’t use his agility against big men more often. He’s got the quicks to take Jeff Foster off the dribble anytime he wants, and the size to dribble in a couple of feet, then shoot over a perimeter defender if he’s lucky enough to draw a guard off the switch. I’m not suggesting that the Clips abandon their post game, but varying Elton’s station on the floor is an effective way to keep opposing defenses honest. To be sure, it’s a lot easier when Chris Kaman is playing well.

The Clippers generated 27 FGAs and 13 FTAs for Brand and Kaman collectively against a team whose frontcourt defenders have a pretty good reputation, despite their recent woes. The key stat is Kaman’s one turnover against all those touches. One of the goals we had for Kaman at the outset of the season was cutting that turnover rate down to about 12 per 100 possessions. Though he’s managed to shave last year’s 16.4 rate down to 16.2, he’s got a long way to go. Chris’s turnover rate last night? 5.81. Throw in a couple of steals, a couple of blocks, 4-5 from the line, and you’ve got a solid outing…despite the humiliating Tinsley between-the-wickets moment.

Maybe it’s a stretch, but I can’t help but wonder if the Clippers’ best defensive game of the season had anything to do with Daniel Ewing’s being on the court for 31 minutes. I know Jamaal Tinsley managed 15 shots, but Ewing picked his pocket repeatedly and Tinsley could generate absolutely nothing for anyone else on the floor. Ewing is a dogged on-ball defender, and the Tony Parker matchup on Monday night should be really interesting.

Posted Wednesday, October 29 at 3:20PM

Good news!

We have launched a new ClipperBlog.com site! You are currently on our old system & are viewing an archived page. We will continue to keep all 670 posts from our first 3 years on this archive site. Soon we will be closing the comments for each of these older posts.

I've never lived in a city where sports fans live and die by the hype they read, like they do in Los Angeles.

Folks...I been watching this league for 40 years and Shaun Livingston is hype.

It's not that I don't wish him well, but if he actually was a special basketball player; the next leader of this team, we all would have been quite sure of that by now.

He represented that high school to pros Hollywood story that LA fans live for. And in a town represented more by "just tell me", than of "show me", all I have ever heard is of Livingston's "potential" and how great he is going to be.

Well, in 2 years, I've been to 50+ games and I have no idea what you're talking about.

Daniel Ewing's play is lead by his defense, like his college coach taught him. If you think Ewing just walked on the Duke team, you don't know what big time, D1 basketball is.

Brand is just having a seasonal break. He'll be ready on Mon. to face Tim Duncan & Co. Ewing can afford to play hard on defense because for time being his fresh legs are with him.

Key to our success remains with Dunleavy. He needs to use Mobley & TThomas carefully. They are not in their early twenties. Fatigue related injuries to either of them will cause trouble in Clipperland. Their veteran leadership is required more than their mounting playing time.

"I'm telling you...Ewing is a better ball player." - blasphemy. if not for ewing's duke pedigree he'd be playing overseas. it pains me to watch him bring the ball up every possession. he's the human shot-clock-violation-waiting-to-happen.

"I can’t help but wonder if the Clippers’ best defensive game of the season had anything to do with Daniel Ewing’s being on the court for 31 minutes." - nope. it had to do w/ the ice-cold pacers being on the court for 48 minutes. that's just a silly statement considering tinsley was the leading pacer scorer at 16. if anyone should be receiving defensive praise, it should be kaman and/or brand.

The Clippers season will be decided over the next two weeks. Seven of the Clips next nine games are on the road and the only two home games are tomorrow night against San Antonio and the Detroit game. They need to put it together defensively right now and go at least 4-5 over that stretch.

Speaking of San Antonio tomorrow night, if anybody wants to go to the game I have a really great pair of upper level seats from a season package that I cant use. Section 321, Row 6 on the aisle closest to center court. $50 for the pair is face value. If you want them email me at biglepaga@hotmail.com.

Ewing only played one year at PG at Duke, and has gotten little playing time to improve in the NBA. He's better at guarding against dribble penetration than SL, who gets beat often. The Clips last night played two smaller, younger point guard to guard against the penetration and it showed.

Footnote 1: When SL comes back, he will be more like tigger than a tiger.

Footnote 2: More PT for Korelev. Anyone see that left hand back shot from the left side? Probably the most acrobatic shot of the year by any Clipper. He knocked down a legit three and had another double clutch runner rim in and out. He's going to be a liablity on defense and going to turn it over for a while, but how many 6'9" players can run, dribble, pass, and shoot for distance?

Korolev is a monster waiting to be unleashed... My theory is that he's great in practice but MD doesn't give him minutes because he wants to hide him from other NBA teams and resign him for cheap in the summer. Or maybe I'm a crack-smoking optimist...

And let's not dis Shaun here. Ever. The kid is a fucking great player and he will be recognized as such when he comes back and explodes. It will take 2 years for him to be 100%, but he's going to be a 5-time All-Star before his career's over. You heard it here first.

Ewing is a shot clock violation waiting to happen every possession. I can't see how this is in debate. He also doesn't do anything to initiate the offense. I didn't run the numbers, but I'm guessing the low scores had as much to do with pace as with defense. If its the Clippers first option to hold the ball up top until 8 seconds are on the clock to dump it into TT for a turnaround baseline jumper, I apologize for all this. There is no question that he did well on defense against a slow, uninspired pair of PG's, but if this team is counting on Ewing the season is already over. He's a fine third option, but he will struggle to get a contract from another team once his rookie contract is up.

Korolev showed...something out there. Flashing randomly between excellence and awfulness. Tough to gauge what would happen if he got consistent minutes. Ain't happening behind Cat, Q, Corey and TT though. Whether or not he can play, he's as good as gone.

I praised Kaman eariler for his D, but I didn't say anything positive about Corey. If Corey played with his head like that every night, there would be no question of his place among the top wings in the league.

I think it's pretty clear that Elton has dead legs this season. All of the training, travel, and games with team USA took its toll on him. Playing 82-plus games last year, then having almost no time off during the "off-season", then going to training camp and right into this season... It's crazy. The toll an NBA season takes on a body is tremendous and these guys need to rest during the off-season. His body is breaking down and he's worn out. Fresh legs...? His are worn out.

Maggette, strangely, seems to be part of the overall offense lately. I have seen him pass more than ever. This trade deadline thing really was an albatross.

I agree with whoever said that maybe Coach is hiding Korolev from the rest of league. The only other thing that I can come up with is that he felt bad for the kid and wanted to get he and his family out of Moscow, so he drafted him. Either way, I sit in the same section as Yari's dad, who was beaming Saturday as his son got some minutes. I'm guessing the kid is part of the future, but Coach must not think he can help now.

If Cassell can get healthy, I see us getting the 7th or 8th spot and a first round exit. I like our chances against Phoenix more than Dallas.

(The Mavs are unique. They don't look as good as they are. Dirk, Terry and Howard is not the best 3-some in the NBA. Dampier and Diop are not that great. Stackhouse is marginal. Devin Harris? It must be Avery Johnson and that team defense.

Maggette's recent play confirms only the obvious - that he should have been starting all along. With all due respect, there's nothing "strange" about that proposition. Wonder what that says about MD's judgment.

I wish Shaun well. But I for one wouldn't take another chance on him (at a high cost) if the Clips can either sign a vet or get someone decent in the draft. Even if he had proven that he's the future, and he hasn't, he's obviously too injury prone to rely on as a key piece of the team.

Any of you fine citizens want two good tix to tonight's game? I can't go all of a sudden, everybody has left work so I can't get rid of them here, and I would hate for them to go unused. They're free. Section 116, Seats 20 and 21. E-mail me at zeglis@caltech.edu

03/05/07 17:59:59

Add Comment

This item is closed, it's not possible to add new comments to it or to vote on it